Educational device for teaching spelling



March 1 9 1927.

- 1,619,160 H. H. $TEZELE EDUCATIONAL DEVICE FOR TEACHING SPELLING FiledJan. 21. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 anvemto'c arch H. H. STEELE EDUCATIONALDEVICE FOR TEACHING SPELLING Filed Jan. 21. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 m 2m g M March 1,1927. 1,619,160

- H. H. STEELE EDUCATIONAL DEVICE FOR TEACHING SPELLING Filed Jan. 21,1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 v 0 I l E I 52 anoento'c 1' 1619160 M t I H.STEELE I EDUCATIONAL DEVICE FOR TEACHING SPELLING Filed Jan. 21. 1924 4Sheets-Sheet 4 anon V601 Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

HERBERT H. STEELE, OF LYNBROOK, NEW YORK.

EDUCATIONAL DEVICE FOR TEACHING SPELLING.

Application filed. January 21, 1924. Serial No. 687,638.

My invention relates to improvements in educational devices in which aseries of normally invisible pictured targets are operated by a seriesof lettered disks to expose a picture when the letters of the dialsregister to spell the picture.

The object of this invention is to improve and simplify the constructionand operation of an educational device shown and described in my priorpatent dated June 20th, 1905, No. 792,801, where a series of detachedlettered blocks were employed to expose a picture when the blocks werearranged to spell the picture. These blocks were a source of manytroubles; they were expensive to make, easily lost and easily brokenfrom being left upon the floor and stepped upon. Furthermore, thepictured targets were springpressed in the direction of exposure and theco-operative levers that controlled the targets, were operated bysprings working contrawise to the springs of the targets and to properlyadjust these two opposing spring elements and maintain a degree offriction to hold the blocks within their slots, was a tedious assemblingoperation and the springs easily got out of adjustment; and hence, oneobject of this invention is to design a controlling mechanism for thepictured targets, that shall be free of springs of any nature; thetargets being arranged to drop by gravity for exposure and thecontrolling means having only to overcome this light gravitative action.Another object, is to provide a complete unit where every part ispermanently assembled to or within the enclosing case; and a furtherobjectis to provide a casing to suitably enclose the various mechanismsin such a manner, that by the addition of a cover-piece, a completeshipping unit is formed to save the expense of a separate box to enclosethe invention for commercial purposes.

I attain these objects by the mechanisn'ls and methods illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a full size frontelevation of my invention w th the picture of a cat exposed aud theletters that spell cat, registering at their respective indexing holes.

Figure 2, is a right hand side elevation with the lower portion of thecase broken away.

Figure 3, is a central vertical section through the case.

Figure 4, is a horizontal section through the case on a plane indicatedby the line X, Figure 1.

Figure 5, is a horizontal section through the case on a plane indicatedby the line Y, Figure 1.

Figure 6, is an enlarged view of one of the controlling cylinders shownin perspective to illustrate the transverse slots ther through.

Figure targets.

Figure 8, is a diagrammatic View showing the relative position of theseveral parts when a target is exposed.

Figure 9, is a view similar to Figure 8, ex cept that the target is atthe normal or invisible position, and

Figure 10, is a reduced end view, partly in section, of a modified formof the case where a cover is provided to form a complete shipping unit.

The casing comprises three pieces of cardboard, 1 the front face, 2 therear face or back and 3 a single piece that forms the two sides and topof the case and provides for an open bottom. The edges where these threepieces join, may be bound together in any wellknown box-making method. Awooden base 4, may be grooved on four sides as with a saw-cut and theedges of the open end of the case set therein and glued permanently.

Both the front and back walls of the case .rc formed with a centralcircular opening 5 that are in alinement with each other.

A series of light cardboard wings or targets 6, are arranged above andto the right of the opening 5 and the whole series are pivotally mountedupon a rod 7 that defines a radial path for the targets relative to theopening 5. This rod 7 may be shouldered down at each end to entereyeletted holes in both the front and back pieces 1 and 2.

A similar series of targets 9 are arranged above and to the left hand ofthe opening 5 and similarly mounted upon a rod 10 that engages withineyeletted holes 1.1.

One series of targets in vertical relation to the other series, isstaggered, so that their path to and from the opening 5 will be mid- 7,is a detail view of one of the way between the planes of the otherseries and avoid interference with each other, as shown at Figure 2.

Each target 6 or 9 is provided with a hub 12 that may be reduced at oneend to form a shoulder and the reduced part 12 passed through a hole inthe target and glued thereto, thus providing each target with acomparatively long bearing to prevent wabbling and also to serve asspacers between adjoining targets. Each target (5 or 9 is provided witha small eyeletted hole 13, that serves as a pivotal point for one end ofa metal link 1 1. The opposite end of this link is pivotedin a similarmanner at 15 to the free end of a horizontally disposed lever 16. Theselevers 16 are all alike in form and size and are grouped into twoseries; each series being equal in number to its series of targets; andeach series are pivotally mounted upon a rod 17 that isshouldered ateach end to enter eyeletted l10lGl8 in both front and back pieces 1 andEach lever is provided with a hub 19 and they are so positioned relativeto each other that the said lever will aline-vertically with itsassociated target. The free end of the levers 16 being directly underits associated target, the pivotal end must necessarily be at theopposite sideoi the case, as shown; and to avoid conflict,must bestaggered in relation to each other and the free ends must clear thehubs of the other series and to avoid interference at the pivots 15, thefree ends 01' the levers extend upwardly at practically right angles, asindicatedat 16, so that the down position of the connection 15 as shownin dotted lines at Figure 1, will stand above the plane of the adjoiningseries of levers.

From this description, it will'be seen that both targets 6 and 9 andtheir levers 16 are subject to the force of gravity when the case standsupright in operative position. To'check or control this gravitativeeiiect when not desired, a series of three cylinders 20, 21 and 22 arearranged adjacent the center of the case and at right angles to theplane of the levers 16, so that the under edge of all the levers of bothseries will bear against the periphery o1 all-three cylinders When theirassociated targets are raised to their invisible or normal positionabove the opening 5. These cylinders are preferably made of wood forlightness, with one end reduced to pivotal form as at 23 to takebearings within'eyeletted holes in the rear wall 201 the case. Theopposite end of these cylinders may be bored centrally for a pivot rod24 that takes a hearing within eyeletted holes in the front wall 1 andter minates'a-ta finger piece or knob 25, which enables each cylinderbeing turned freely in either direction. Each cylinder 20, 21 and 22 1sprovided with a disk or dial of cardboard 26, that may beperinanentlysecured to the end adjacent the inside of the front wall 1. The oppositetare of this disk 26 has a series of letters printed thereon radially tothe axis oi the cylinder and to render one letter of each dish visible,a hole 27, 28 and 29 is punched through the front wall 1 directly overthe position o'l each knob To co-operate with the levers 16, eachcylinder 20, 21 and 22 is formed with a series of transverse slots orgrooves 30. These grooves or slots are positioned to aline with theposition oi? the levers and each cylinder will have slots which at somesetting thereof will present some slot for every leverposition and hencewhen the cylinders are turned to a predetermined position defined by theregistry of the letters at the holes 27, 28 and 29, a slot oneach'cylinder will be brought into alinement with a lever 16 and intoalinement with each other across the top face oi all three cylinders andthe said lever will drop by gravity into all three slots and in droppingwill permit the connected target to drop to the opening ii and exposeits picture. This dropping feature of the lever within the slots 01' thecylinders is shown in dotted lines at Figure 1 and diagran'nnatically atFigure 8 for the position of the parts for a cat picture.

To properly control the movement of the targets through the co-operationoi the levers 16 with the three cylinders 20, 21 and 22, the said leversshould contact with the top taco of all three cylinders, otherwise, it alever rode high upon one cylinder and did not touch the two adjoiningcylinders, this one high cylinder would cause the lever to vibrateslightly and expose the edge oi its target at the opening every time theslot in the cylinder was turned into alineinent therewith. It is alsoessential that the depth of the slots 30 in all three cylinders shall beapproximately correct for the levers downward movement, that only thecorrect letter may be exposed at the holes 27, 28 and 29 as for example;if the cylinder 20 in Figure 9 instead of having a shallow slot asshown, had a-deeper slot as indicated by the dotted line at whichindicates the same depth as the slot in the cylinder 22, it will be seenthat the said cylinder 20 could be rotated in either direction until theedges 01'' the slot engaged the lower edge of the lever 16 and this treemovement of the said cylinder would be sullicient to wholly expose threeletters at the hole 27.

In the drawings, i'ive targets comprise each series 6 and 9 and eachtarget is illustrated by a different three-letter object. These tcnobjects illustrated are cow, pig, dog, hat. rat, cat, boy. bag, rug andbug. This combination requires six different first letters for thesewords-C, P, R, B, H, and D, and these six letters are disposed radiallyaround the ltlfi lltl elf)

disk on the cylinder 20. The middle letters for these words are four innumber, A, I, O and U and are printed on the face of the disk 26 for themiddle cylinder 21. The last letters of the words are also four innumber, T, Y, W and G for the disk on the cylinder 22. There being sixletters for the cylinder 20, and each letter indicating a stop positionfor the cylinder, it will be understood that the slots 30 associatedwith this cylinder will occupy six difi'erent planes or at 60 degreedivisions of the circumference of the cylinder. The cylinders 21 and 22having four stop-positions will have their slots 30 on four sides or 90degrees apart. This detail is illustrated in perspective at Figure 6which shows a portion of the cylinder 21.

If the reading of the registry of the letters at theholes 27, 28 and 29was C U-T instead of C-A-T, the position of the slots 30 relative to thecat-lever 16 is shown at Figure 9 where the lever 16 and its target 6are shown in their normal position and while the slots 30 in the twocylinders 20 and 22 are in operative position to permit the drop ping ofthe lever 16, to expose the target, the U registry for the cylinder 21,as shown at Figure 9, still prevents the said lever from droppingbecause the lower edge rides upon the periphery of the cylinder.

From this description it will be seen that the registry of a letter atthe holes 27, 28 and 29 constitutes a. visible means to index theposition of the slots 30 in the cylinders that are themselves hiddenfrom view; that the indexing of the letters on each dial 26 sets upinvisible combinations and that these combinations control the movementof the whole series of targets, either to hold them in a state of restor to drop them to the opening 5 when their individuality is correctlydefined by 'the letter registry at the holes 27, 28 and 29. And becauseof these defective combinations that may be made with the lettersprovided, the indexing of the letters C A T will impress upon the mindof a child that C A T has a fixed relation to the picture of the cat,because no other combination will bring the picture of the cat intoview.

Vere the three cylinders 20, 21 and 22 of uniform diameter and the loweredges of all the levers 16 straight to bear against the top faces of allthree cylinders, the downward drop of a lever at the cylinder furthestfrom the pivot of the lever would require a depth of slot that would cutmore than half way through the cylinder and weaken its structure,especially if two adjoining slots should be positioned diametricallyopposite. To overcome this structural trouble, the middle cylinder 21has a diameter smaller than the diameters of the two adjoining cylinders20 and 22 and to provide that the lower edges of the levers 16 shallcontact with all three cylinders in the manner previously'described, thelower edges of the levers are formed with a convex curvature and throughthis arrange ment depth of the slot for the free ends of the levers isreduced to about one half of what would be required for a lever having astraight lower edge. 1

Referring to Figure 8, where the lever 16 is shown in operative positionwithin the slots in all three cylinders and its associated targetlowered to the exposed position, the cylinder 20 which is nearest thelevers pivot 17 has a comparatively shallow slot; the slot in thecylinder 21 is a little deeper and the slot in the cylinder 22 is deeperstill. All the slots in the three cylinders that co-operate with thelive levers 16 that are pivoted at the left hand side of the case, willhave this same arrangement in all three cylinders. For the five leversthat are pivot-ed at the right hand side of the case, the relative depthof the slots in the three cylinders will be reversed; the shallow slotshown for the cylinder 20 in this figure, will be transferred to thecylinder 22and the deeper slot in the cylinder 22 will be transferred tothe cylinder 20; and as both series of levers are spaced on theirrespective pivots to overhang the three cylinders in a staggeredrelation, the adjoining slots in the two cylinders 20 and 22 will bealternately shallow and deep but the slots in the cylinder 21 will bemore uniformly alike.

To eflectively close in the whole mechanism within the case the twoopenings may be provided with a glass or celluloid covering 31 securedto the inside faces oi the two walls 1 and 2.

In the preferred form for the case, a base of wood is provided and tocontiplete the construction, a suitable cardboard box should be a partof the commercial outfit. This box container a necessary extra expenseto protect the educational device from injury and at the same time givea shape that can be closely packed up for shipment. To eliminate thisextra box, forms the subject matter of the modification shown in areduced scale at Figure 10, where the trout and back pieces 1 and 2- aresimilar to those in the preferred construction. The bottom piece i maybe a continuation of 3 that passes around all four sides of the case.The piece 3, however, is enough wider than that shown at Figure 2, toextend beyond the front wall 1 and a little beyond the face of thefinger knob 25. This provides for a box-lil-2e structure having a set-infront wall 1, and the front open face may be covered by a cardboardcover 32, making a complete shipping unit with the addition of only acover piece.

While the invention as now described comprises a series of three-letterobjects that are disclosed through the manipulation of a lUO llo

lift) st 1,619,'1 so three'position index, it will be understood that'four 'ormore lettered objects can be provided for by simple"reproduction of these described parts, that providing an opening-'5atthe rear wall of the case, not only admits more light to the interiorof the case, but by duplicating the pictures on each side of thetargets, the pictures may be viewed from both front-and back.

Having fully described the nature of my invention, I desire to securethe same by Letters Patent and therefore claim:

1. The combination with a casing having an opening, of a target normallyhidden from view but arranged to move to the open ing, and a series ofrotatable selectively operable elements jointly controlling thepresentationof the target to the opening.

2. The combination with a casing having an opening, of a series ofnormally invisible targets arranged to move to the. opening one at atime, and a series of rotatable selectively operable elements arrangedto jointly control the movement of any target.

3. The combination with a casing having an opening, of a series oftargets normally hidden from view but arranged to be presented to theopening, a series of rotatable selectively operable elements, and meansto control the presentation of any target to the opening through avariable setting of the selective elements.

4. The combination with a casing having an opening, of a target normallyhidden from view but arranged to be presented to the opening, "and aseries of rotatable selective-ly operable elements arranged to ointlycause the target to appear or disappear at the opening. g

5. The combination with a casing having an opening, of a series oftargets normally hidden from view but arranged to be presented to theopening, and a series of rotatable selectively operable elementsarranged to jointly cause any target to appear or disappear from theopening.

6. In an educational device, the combination with a casing having anopening, or a pictured target normally hidden from view but adapted tomove to the opening to expose the picture and a series of rotatableselectively operable elements adapted and arranged to expose the picturewhen set in proper sequence.

' 7.-In an educational device, the combination with a casing having anopening, ol :1

series of pictured targets normally hidden from View but arranged to bepresented to the opening to expose each picture, and a series ofrotatable selectivelyoperable lettereddisks arranged to jointly controlthe exposure of any picture, when the selective elements are set tospell the picture.

8. In an educational device, the combine tion with a casing having anopening, or" a pictured target normally hidden -from view but arrangedto be presented to the opening to expose the picture, and a series ofrotatable selectively operable lettered elements arranged to expose thepicture when the setting-ct the selective elements spells the picture.

9. Inan educational device, the combination with a casing having acentral opening, of two or more series of pictured targets normallyhidden from view but arranged to beindividuallypresented to the openingto expose a picture, and a series of rotatable selectively operablelettered disks arranged to jointly control the exposure of any picture01 any series, when the selective elements are set to spell a picture.

10. In an educational device, the combination with a casing having anopening, of a series of pictured targets norn'ially hidden from view butadapted to move to theopening, and rotatable selectively operable meanswherebyany'target ot the series may be selected for exposure through theproper registry of theselective means.

11. 111 an educational device, the combination with a casing having anopening, of a series of pictured targets normally hidden from viewbut'adapted to move to the opening and a series of rotatable lettereddisks provided with means whereby each target will respond to apredetermined registry of the letters that spell the picture on thetarget.

12. In an educational device, the combination with a casing having anopening, of a seriesot pictured targets normally hidden from view butadapted to move to the opening to expose the pictures and a series ofrotatable lettered indexes adapted to expose those letters that spell apicture and automatically expose the associated picture at the opening.

13. In an educational device, the combination with a casing having anopening, ot a pictured target normally hidden from view but arranged topresent the picture to the opening, selective devices including a seriesof rotatable lettered discs, and means co-operative with the selectivedevices and connected to the target, whereby the picture will be exposedwhen'the letters spell the picture.

14. In an educational device, the con1hination with a casinghaving anopening, of a series ot'pictured "targets norn'ially hidden from viewbut arranged to be ilnl ividually presented to the opening, rotatableselectively-operable means including discs having aseries of letters,and means oo-operas tive with the exposure of the letters and ettectiveto expose any picture of the series when the letters disclosed,spel-l'the picture.

iii]

15. Inan educational device,-the combination with a casing having anopening, of a pictured target norinally hidden from view, a series ofinterlocks to control the target and rotatable selectively operablemeans adapted to register a predetermined setting for the interlocksthat will release the target.

16. In an educational device, the combination with. a casing having anopening, of a pictured target normally hidden from view, a series ofinterlocking members to control the target, and rotatable selectivelyoperable devices arranged to present a predetermined setting for theinterlocks that will release the target to expose the picture.

17. In an educational device, the conibination with a casing having anopening, of a pictured target norinally hidden from view, 1 series ofinterlocking elements to control the target, and a series ofselectively-operable rotatable lettered members arranged to register theletters that spell the picture and automatically expose the picture.

18. In an educational device, the combination with a casing having anopening, of a pictured target normally hidden from view, a leverconnected to the target, a cylinder having a slot within the field ofthe lever and a visible index adapted to bring the slot and lever intoco-operation at a predeter mined point to expose the target.

19. In an educational device, the combination with a casing having anopening, of a pictured target normally hidden from view, a leverconnected to the target, a series of cylinders having slots adapted foraline nent with the lever and a visible index for each cylinder adaptedto register the positions where all three slots will co-operate with thelever to expose the target.

20. In an educational, device, the combination with a casing having anopening, of a plurality of pictured targets normally hidden from view, alever connected to each target, a series of cylinders having slotsadapted for alineinent with each lever and a visible index for eachcylinder to register the relation of the slots.

21. In an educational device, the combination with a casing having anopening, of a plurality of pictured targets normally hidden from view, alever connected to each target, a series of cylinders having slots toco-operate with each lever and a lettered index for each cylinderadapted to bring a series of slots into co-operation with any lever whenthe registry of the letters spells the picture.

22. In an educational device, the combination with a casing having anopening, ot a plurality of invisible pictured targets arranged to moveto the opening to expose picture, a series o1 rotatable selectivemembers including discs having letters to spell any picture on thetargets, and means operated by the selective members and connee ed tothe targets whereby the spelling of the picture by the exposure of theletters will automatically expose the picture.

23. In an educational device, the combi nation with a casing having anopening, of a plurality of invisible pictured targets adapted to move tothe opening by gravity, a series or interlocks to control each targetand a series of lettered disks comprising indexes adapted toautomatically release any interlock when the letters on the dialsregister to spell a picture.

24-. In an educational device, the combination with a casing having anopening, of a target overhanging the opening and arranged to drop to theopening by gravity, interlocks to control the target, and rotatableselectively-operable means arranged to re lease the interlocks and allowthe target to drop to the openin 25. In an educational device, thecombination with a casing having an opening, of a target adapted toswing to and from the opening, a lever connected to the target, acylinder having a slot to co-operate with the lever within the casingand exterior means to register the position when the said slot and levercoact to move the target.

26. In an educational device, the combination with a casing having anopening, of a target adapted to swing to and from the opening, a leverconnected to the target, a series of slotted cylinders to co-operatewith the lever within the casing and exterior means to register theposition of each cylinder where the slots and lever are in alinernent tomove the target.

27. In an educational device, the combination with a casing having anopening, of a pictured target adapted to swing to and from the opening,a lever connected to the target, a series of cylinders having slotspositioned to co-operate wit-h the lever within the casing and anexterior registry for each cylinder to define a position when all theslots are in alineinent with the lever to move the target.

2%. In an educational device, the combination with a casing having anopening, of a normally invisible pictured target adapted to swing to andfrom the opening, a series of invisible lettered members provided withregistry holes in the casing to expose one letter at a time and meansco-operative with the movement of the dials to expose the picture at theopening when the exposed letters spell the picture.

29. In an educational device, the combination with a casing having anopening, of a target adap'ed to swing to and from the opening, a leverconnected to the target, a plurality of slotted. cylinders of varyingdiaineters to co-operate with the lever and an index adapted to definethe relation of the slots to thelever.

- '80. In an educational device, the combination with a casing having anopening, of a pictured target adapted to, swing to and from the opening,.a pivoted horizontal lever connected to the target, a plurality ofrotatable cylinders in contact Withthe lever, a transverse slot in eachcylinder positioned to aline with the lever and an index rotated\vitlreach'cylinder to'define the operative positions of the slots tothe lever so that'the picture may be exposed at the opening.

31. In an educationaldevice, the combinationwith a casinghaiving anopening, of

new, we

a target normallyhidden from view, and rotatable selective membersarranged to jointly expose the target at the openingand individuallyoperable to restore the target to its hidden position.

In an educational device, the combination with a casing having anopenil'lg, of a pictured target normally hidden from view by the casing.and rotatable selectively-operable lettered nien'ibers arranged by theproper selection of the letters to eli'ect a joint targeta'eleasinoperation and individually operable to restore the released target.

HERBERT H. STEELE.

